Turbine



Dec 29, 1936. w, METHVIN 2,065,865

TURBINE Filed Dec. l9, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l 3/16 2 a d I 2M)%/ 2: Z5901 WM;

Dec. 29, 1936, w. E. METHVlN TURBINE Filed Dec. 19, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec.- 29, 1936 UNETED 3 Claims.

My invention relates to turbines and particularly to a type wherein power is developed by utilizing the force of water falling by action of gravity, and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is an object of the invention to provide a turbine of extreme simplicity in construction, and broadly stated, consists of a conductor tube so constructed as to impart a high rotary speed to Water passing therethrough and discharging such water upon a rotor from which power is imparted to a shaft to be driven.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a novel construction of rotor.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a turbine which may be arranged in series, the several turbine units employing a common supply duct and driving a common power shaft.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the following description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the turbine.

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the upper portion of a conductor tube and its connection with a flume.

Figure 4 is a side elevation, illustrating the manner of connecting the turbine units in series.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure l, illustrating a modified form of the device.

Attention is first invited to Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, wherein I make use of a cylindrical shell l0 open at both ends, and supported in a substantially vertical plane by suitable braces II at its lower end and at its upper end by its connection, as indicated at I2, with a fiume l3. A suitable foundation housing I4 is employed for enclosing the rotor and drive gears, and includes a spillway I5, whereby water discharged from the rotor may be conducted to any suitable point for disposal.

Within the shell I 0 there is arranged a vent tube l6, positioned concentric with respect to the shell III. This relationship between the shell and tube is maintained by the provision of a helical vane I1, the peripheral edges of which abut respectively, the inner circumference of the shell and the outer periphery of the tube I 6. The vane I! may be butt-welded to the shell and tube,

or other approved means of securing the shell, tube and vane may be followed.

The vent tube 56 extends from a point below the shell 9 where it is given an outward flare to a point above the flume i3, and the vanell begins at the mouth I8 of the shell and terminates at the flared discharge opening i9. By the construction described, water will enter the shell Ii], from the flume 53 through the mouth i8 and will follow the helical vane I! in a downward path, 10 until the water discharges through the open end i9. Obviously, the water as it discharges from the casing will have a centrifugal swirl, the force of which is directed to the vanes of a rotor, generally indicated at 29.

The rotor 20 is semi-spherical in shape and includes a plurality of angularly disposed vanes 2! extending from the apex of the sphere upwardly where they are connected by an annular flange member 22. The rotor 20 is of a diameter greater than the shell Ill and the open end I9 of the shell is disposed within the rotor, and in order to prevent any upward and outward throw of water as it discharges from the end I9, the flange 22 is given a slight downward slope, as indicated at 23.

The base of the rotor has fixed thereto a shaft 24, suitably journalled as at 25, and includes a gear 26, in mesh with a gear 21 on a shaft 28.

In order to prevent a vacuous condition at the apex of the rotor, I provide a conical shaped member 29 mounted within the rotor immediately below the vent tube l6, and this member during rotation of the rotor will prevent accumulation of water at the apex and thus eliminates the building up of undue pressures which might tend to retard rotation of the rotor, and, any pressures which may be developed will be relieved through the vent tube It, which as shown in Figures 3 and 4 opens above the flume I3. 40

In use, water from any suitable source, such as a stream, is admitted into the flume [3, from whence it passes downwardly through the shell l0, following the vane ll. Obviously, the water thus falling through the tube will gain momentum, due to action of gravity, and will also have imparted to it a helical whirling action due to its path along the vane l1, until it is discharged with great force through the flared mouth l9 forcibly striking the vanes 2! of the rotor, thus effecting rotation of the shaft 28, by virtue of the gears 26 and 21. Any mechanism desired may of course be driven from the shaft 28, and this shaft may include any approved power take-off means, not shown.

In Figure 4, I have shown one manner of connecting turbine units in a series relation, the conductor tubes I being connected with the flume l3 at spaced points longitudinally therealong, the shaft 28 being driven by suitable gearing (not shown) of respective units.

A modified form of turbine is shown in Figure 5, in which the vent tube is dispensed with and the helical vane is likewise eliminated, the rotation of the rotor being effected solely by the impact of the falling water upon the vanes of the rotor. In this form, the rotor 30 is constructed, as previously stated, revolubly supported within the casing between transversely extended struts 3| and 32. The shaft 33 of the rotor has keyed thereto a gear 34 in mesh with a gear 35 on the shaft 36. The shaft 36 is revolubly mounted in a bearing 31 fixed to the strut 3|. The strut 3! also supports a cone member 38 upon its upper face, mounted medially of the casing l0 and rotor 39, the apex of the cone being directed in a direction toward the water entering the tube I0, thus tending to direct the water at an angle in the direction of the vanes of the rotor, to cause rotation thereof.

While I have shown and described certain preferred forms of the turbine, I am well aware that changes may be made, and I therefore consider as my own, all such modifications as fairly fall Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A rotary turbine comprising a semi-spherical rotor having its open end disposed upwardly,

said rotor being revolubly mounted and including angularly disposed blades, a fluid conductor casing arranged axially of the rotor and having an end disposed therewithin, said casing being positioned so as to impart gravitational force to the fluid admitted thereto, a vent tube within the casing extending beyond the ends of the casing, a conical member at the base of the rotor and directed toward the vent tube, and said casing and vent tube having their ends within the rotor flared in the direction of the rotor blades.

2. A rotary turbine comprising a pair of concentrically arranged casing members, the inner casing projecting beyond the outer member at each end, a helicoidal vane member fixed between the casing members and extending approximately the full length of the outer member and defining a helical passage way, a hollow semispherical rotor enclosing the discharge end of the casing members and having a conical shaped member positioned axially of the inner casing member, power take-off means operatively connected with the rotor, and fluid supply means connected with the helical passage-way.

3. A rotary turbine comprising a pair of concentrically arranged casing members positioned in a substantially vertical plane, the inner casing projecting beyond the outer member at each end, fluid supply means connected with the outer casing member at its uppermost end, a helical vane member connected between the casing members and extending approximately the full length of the outer member and defining a hellcal passage-way, a hollow semi-spherical rotor enclosing the discharge end of the casing members, said rotor having angularly disposed blade members, a conical shaped member mounted in the base of the rotor upon the interior thereof, the apex of the conical member being directed toward the axial center of the inner casing member, and power take-off means operatively connected with the rotor.

WILBUR E. IVIETHVIN. 

